Giving LDR nursing a bad name........

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Daughter recently gave birth at a hospital with an excellent LDR reputation. During 48+ hour stay, she had a couple of so-so nurses, 2 outstanding nurses and 1 really really poor nurse. Would like comments from other LDR nurses what to make of what I observed:

12 hours postpartum: healthy (very large) baby, healthy mom with 3rd degree tear/repair. Daughter requested to take meds from home @ 0700 when new nurse came on. Was refused and told nurse would get order from Dr. for pharmacy to dispense. I arrived @ 1330, by which point daughter had neither heard back on the meds question nor had she seen nurse since 0800. Paper chart on the outside of the LDR suite documented nursing visit/assessment q 2 hr from 0700 - 1930 (in other words, charting in advance).

Around 1400, daughter rang for nurse, inquired about meds over intercom. "Oh!" says RN. "Haven't you received those yet? I'll check on them!" Huh? Who would have dispensed them if not her? Long story short, meds not taken until 0800 NEXT DAY, when OB rounded and told daughter to take her own. (Personally, I would have taken them a few hours after requesting and not receiving them. However, that's just me - daughter was trying to be a good patient.)

I did not personally see the nurse until 1730 when daughter rang for nurse and requested q 8 hr SCHEDULED naprosyn which had last been given at 0200. RN brought med, dispensed, put stethescope to chest of mom & baby, and left the room. No fundus check, no inquiry as to bleeding, pain assessment, etc. Thank goodness both daughter and infant are healthy and relatively comfortable, but still:confused:

I'm tempted to fill out a patient survey myself while of course identifying myself as the mother of the patient. Daughter continues to want to be a non-complainer and quite frankly, she has moved on and is happy taking care of baby. No harm, no foul, seems to be her thought process. What I see is a lazy nurse who had 2 couplets to care for in 12 hours and did next to nothing for at least half of her patient load. For all I know, she did next to nothing for the other couplet as well. It did occur to me that she might have had her hands full with the other couplet, but not once did she poke her head in the door and say that she's busy but will check back later, or send anyone else to check in either. She just did nothing, while charting that she did.

Thoughts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How do you know she did nothing the whole shift? If you are a nurse you know that patients often think nurses are doing nothing, when you know good and well that is not the truth. I agree your daughters care could have been handled better though...

Jenn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
How do you know she did nothing the whole shift? If you are a nurse you know that patients often think nurses are doing nothing, when you know good and well that is not the truth. I agree your daughters care could have been handled better though...

Jenn

You will note that I did acknowledge that the other couplet in her care could very well have been a handful and occupying all of her time. However, that did not seem to be the case as she did not so much as peek her head in the door to check in, yet charted that she did.

Through conversations with nurses prior to and after her shift, I am very clear that each RN carried only 1 laboring patient or 2 recovering couplets.

But...you are correct. She could have very well been busy documenting that which she did not do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd fill out the survey with the facts you stated. True, you don't know she did nothing- but you do know she charted in advance and was less than attentive...assessment not done thoroughly... sounds like basics ignored, no follow up with meds, etc... Makes me wonder if their LDR rep is based on people thinking they're at the best place, and don't know better- you do :) jmo

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please complain. I've seen so many bad nurses that are taking up space that others would happily fill and do such a much better job at.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Newborn, Antepartum.

Being an LDRP nurse, I am so sorry that your daughter did not receive the care that she should've. I encourage you to fill out the survey, or call and speak to the manager directly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

I would say do not fill out the survey the survey's are meant for patients and usually only the scores matter, the comments get very little attention. Instead I would encourage you to call the manager on the unit and voice your concerns to them. At least you were there to see that your daughter and her baby were well. Heaven forbid something went wrong with no family in the room AND no nurse checking in quite an unacceptable period of time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I would say do not fill out the survey the survey's are meant for patients and usually only the scores matter, the comments get very little attention. Instead I would encourage you to call the manager on the unit and voice your concerns to them. At least you were there to see that your daughter and her baby were well. Heaven forbid something went wrong with no family in the room AND no nurse checking in quite an unacceptable period of time.

Press-Ganey has a question about who is filling out the survey- family is on there :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I want to know where this Shangri-La is where nurses only have two couplets. That was my first thought. If you truly have concerns I'd call the unit manager and speak with him/her and relay facts, no speculation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.
Daughter recently gave birth at a hospital with an excellent LDR reputation. During 48+ hour stay, she had a couple of so-so nurses, 2 outstanding nurses and 1 really really poor nurse. Would like comments from other LDR nurses what to make of what I observed:

12 hours postpartum: healthy (very large) baby, healthy mom with 3rd degree tear/repair. Daughter requested to take meds from home @ 0700 when new nurse came on. Was refused and told nurse would get order from Dr. for pharmacy to dispense. I arrived @ 1330, by which point daughter had neither heard back on the meds question nor had she seen nurse since 0800. Paper chart on the outside of the LDR suite documented nursing visit/assessment q 2 hr from 0700 - 1930 (in other words, charting in advance).

Around 1400, daughter rang for nurse, inquired about meds over intercom. "Oh!" says RN. "Haven't you received those yet? I'll check on them!" Huh? Who would have dispensed them if not her? Long story short, meds not taken until 0800 NEXT DAY, when OB rounded and told daughter to take her own. (Personally, I would have taken them a few hours after requesting and not receiving them. However, that's just me - daughter was trying to be a good patient.)

were her meds in labelled original packs as dispensed ? if so absolutely no reason why the couldn't be used - especially if they were 'patient packs' rather than loose tablets in pharmacy bottles ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment